Small-sized linen ironing machine

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a linen-ironing machine. This machine includes a cylinder driven in rotation by an electric motor and a heating shoe member adapted to be applied on the surface of the said cylinder to iron the linen as it is driven, a frame formed of at least three tubular bars extending in parallel relationship to one another and mounted at one of their ends on a casing containing in particular the said electric motor, namely a first bar forming a shaft on which the said cylinder rotates, a second bar forming a shaft on which the said shoe rotates and a third bar forming a base for the machine.

[lite tes Trouilhet Dec. 24, 11974 SMALL-SIZED LINEN IRONING MACHINE [75] Inventor: Maurice Marie Achille Trouilhet,

Lyon, France [73] Assignee: SEB S.A., Selongey, France [22] Filed: Mar. 12, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 450,429

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Mar. 20, 1973 France ..73.09988 [52] US. Cl. 38/60 [51] Int. Cl D06f 63/00, D06f 65/04 [58] Field of Search 38/60, 61, 59, 58

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,362,625 11/1944 Gerhardt 38/60 2,434,483 1/1948 Briggs 38/60 2,501,775 3/1950 Kortum 38/60 2,578,928 12/1951 Freis 38/60 2,614,347 10/1952 Freis 38/60 2,669,046 2/1954 Stevenson 38/60 2,830,393 4/1958 Frey 3,208,169 9/1965 Buchner 353/61 Primary ExaminerGeo V. Larkin Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Kenyon & Kenyon Reilly Carr & Chapin [57] ABSTRACT The invention relates to a linen-ironing machine. This machine includes a cylinder driven in rotation by an electric motor and a heating shoe member adapted to be applied on the surface of the said cylinder to iron the linen as it is driven, a frame formed of at least three tubular bars extending in parallel relationship to one another and mounted at one of their ends on a casing containing in particular the said electric motor, namely a first bar forming a shaft on which the said cylinder rotates, a second bar forming a shaft on which the said shoe rotates and a third bar forming a base for the machine.

9 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEB UEB24|974 sum 30; 4

The present invention has essentially for its object a small-sized linen ironing machine.

The linen-ironing machines offered on the market for some time permit avoidance of the tedious and sometimes tiresome use of irons. These machines comprise generally a cylinder surrounded with an adequate cloth and driven in rotation by an electric motor, and also a heating shoe member which is applied on a portion of the surface of the cylinder to iron the linen as it is driven.

The present invention relates to an ironing machine of the above-defined general type, but is quite inexpen sive, compact and of minimal size while at the same time ensuring efficient and convenient ironing of the linen.

More precisely, the invention has for its object a small-sized linen ironing machine of the type comprising a cylinder driven in rotation by an electric motor and a heating shoe member adapted to be applied on the surface of the said cylinder to iron the linen as it is driven by the cylinder, characterized in that it comprises a frame formed of at least three tubular bars extending in parallel relationship to one another and with one of their respective ends mounted on a casing containing in particular the said electric motor, namely a first bar on which the said cylinder rotates, a second bar on which the said shoe rotates and a third bar fonning the base of the machine.

It is thus seen that the working members of the machine are simply mounted on two tubes secured to a casing containing the electric motor as well as various elements partaking in the driving of the ironing cylinder, and which will be described hereinafter.

According to another feature of the invention, the said casing is provided with a protecting portion forming a double sleeve which receives, on the one hand, the said first bar and, on the other hand, a gear wheel meshing with teeth provided at the internal periphery of the cylinder.

According to still another feature of the invention, the said gear wheel is prolonged by a splined hollow portion serving as a housing for a slotted cylindrical member driven by a toothed ring which is itself driven by a set of gear wheels forming a speed reducer and housed within the casing.

It is therefore understood that the toothed ring just described drives the slotted cylindrical member and therefore the gear wheel which in its turn drives the ironing cylinder.

It should be noted that, according to the invention, the said slotted member and toothed wheel together form a dog clutch ensuring a positive unidirectional drive of the ironing cylinder which can therefore operate also as a free wheel.

This arrangement is particularly advantageous, for the user can rotate the ironing cylinder manually in order, for example, to free the linen from the machine, this free rotation of the cylinder constituting, in a way, an automatic unclutching of the machine readily performed by the user.

According to another feature of the invention, a spring is provided in the hollow portion of the gear wheel co-operating with the internal teeth of the cylinder, which spring permanently urges the slotted cylindrical member against the said toothed ring.

Therefore, this spring is actuated when unclutching the machine, in the sense that when the ironing cylinder is rotated manually, the slotted cylindrical member is readily freed from the toothed ring, which means that the teeth of these two elements are disengaged and thus uncoupled.

It should be noted that the cylinder drive pinion, the cylindrical member and the toothed ring rotate about a shaft attached to the double sleeve of the casing and to a plate enabling the speed-reducing gear wheel set to be mounted in the casing.

According to another feature of the invention, the said shoe is driven in rotation about the said second tubular bar by a rod actuating a tube mounted freely on the said second bar and containing means for the return of the shoe to its withdrawn position with respect to the cylinder.

The said return means are advantageously constituted by a torsion bar, one end of which is immobilized in a flattened portion of the said tube and the other end of which is bent and abuts against a projection provided in the casing.

According to another feature of the invention, the skid drive rod may be retained in a portion of the casing forming a hook while at the same time actuating a small lever pivotally mounted on the plate by means of which the gear-wheel set is mounted within the casing, and actuating a switch.

Thus, when the shoe is applied against the cylinder and the machine is therefore in the working position, the cylinder is started automatically. On the contrary, when the shoe drive rod is freed from the aforesaid hook, the ironing cylinder stops automatically and the shoe moves away from the cylinder by itself.

According to still another feature of the invention, an element serving as a support on which the ironing cylinder rotates is secured to the end of the said first bar.

More precisely, a cross-plate within the ironing cylinder and provided with a cavity at its center is mounted and rotates on the said support element.

According to still another feature of the invention, the shoe is fixed by means of lugs on the flattened portion of the tube mounted freely around the said second bar.

It should be noted that the fixing of the lugs on the said flattened portion ensures at the same time the fixing of the said torsion bar.

The said tubular bars forming the frame of the machine have a previously deformed end which is simply force-fitted into the casing, said third bar forming the base of the machine being more precisely constituted by two tubes on which a protective enclosure for the casing is fitted.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description made with reference to the appended drawings wherein:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views showing respectively the machine of the invention in working position (with the shoe applied on the ironing cylinder) and in idle position (with the shoe moved away from the ironing cylinder);

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the casing of the machine, with the cover of the said casing removed;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view from the rear side of the machine, i.e. the side opposite to the one shown in FIG.

FIG. is a view identical with FIG. 4, but with the cover of the rear of the shoe removed;

FIG. 6 is a view identical with FIG. 5, but showing the machine with the shoe, ironing cylinder and base enclosure removed;

FIG. 7 is a top view of the assembly shown in FIG. 6, with parts in section and broken away, wherein, for the sake of clarity, the gear-wheel set forming the speed reducer as well as the slotted member have been extracted respectively from the casing and the cylinder drive gear wheel; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view upon the line VIIIVIII of FIG. 7, the slotted cylindrical member being placed in the cylinder drive gear wheel.

According to an example of embodiment and referring to the appended drawings, a small-sized linen ironing machine according to the invention comprises a frame 1 formed essentially of four tubular bars extending in substantially parallel relationship to one another with at one of their ends in a casing 2 containing a certain number of drive elements.

The tubular bars and their functions will be described in detail hereafter.

The frame 1 of the machine comprises: a first tubular bar 3 forming a shaft on which a cylinder 4 covered with an appropriate cloth 5 suitable for ironing is rotatably mounted; a second bar 6 carrying a shoe 7 heated by resistors 8 (see FIG. 5), and two tubes 9 (FIGS. 3, 6 and 7) forming the base of the machine and covered with an enclosing element 10 and part of which forms a cover 11 for the casing 2. In FIGS. 1 and 2 a small table 12 formed in the cover 11 is shown and on which are provided the control means of the machine.

As appears clearly from FIG. 3, the first tubular bar 3 and two tubes 9 are simply force-fitted into the casing 2 at their ends 13 which have been previously deformed. As seen in FIGS. 6 and 7 the second bar 6 is constituted by two portions, namely a tube section 14 (FIG. 8) tightly anchored in the casing 2 and more particularly in a boss 15 (FIG. 3) moulded integral with the said casing, and a tube 16 comprising a portion adapted to rotate freely about the tube section 14 and a flattened end 17 which will be described in detail later.

The casing 2 comprises a portion projecting into the machine and forming double sleeve 18 which receives on the one hand the tubular bar 3 and on the other hand a gear wheel 19 meshing with teeth 20 provided at the internal periphery of the cylinder 4. The gear wheel 19 is prolonged in the double sleeve 18 of the casing 2 by a hollow portion 21 provided with splines 22 and serving as a housing for a cylindrical member 23 provided with slots 24 co-operating, of course, with the splines 22. The cylindrical member 23 is driven in rotation by a toothed ring 25 which is itself driven by a gear wheel set 26 forming a speed reducer, driven by an electric motor (not shown) and housed in the casing 2, as appears clearly in FIG. 3. At 27 is shown a cooling impeller for the electric motor, the said impeller concealing the said motor in FIG. 3.

As appears clearly in FIG. 7, the cylindrical member 23 and the toothed ring 25 form together, by their portions 23a and 25a, a dog clutch, whereas a spring 48 is provided in the hollow portion 21 of the gear wheel 19 to permanently urge the cylindrical member 23 against the toothed ring 25. Owing to this clutch, a positive unidirectional drive of the cylinder 4 is obtained in the direction of the arrow F shown in FIG. 7, while at the same time allowing at any moment the user to rotate manually the cylinder 4 (in the direction of the arrow F) which will then operate as a free wheel. Indeed, it is understood in this last case that, owing to the spring 48, the portion 23a of the cylindrical member 23 escapes, while turning, the teeth of the portion 25a of the toothed ring 25. This is extremely advantageous, since, depending upon the kind of linen to be ironed, the roller or cylinder 4 can be rotated faster and, therefore, the linen can be driven faster.

The toothed wheel 25, the cylindrical member 23 and the gear wheel 19 driving the cylinder 4 rotate about a small shaft 28 secured at 29 to the double sleeve 18 of the casing 2 and attached at 30 (FIG. 3) to a plate 31 mounted on the casing 2 and on which is arranged the whole set of gear wheels 26 forming the speed reducer.

The shoe 7 carries a thermostat 32 (FIG. 5) of a known type and necessitating no particular comment, and is covered on the external side by a cover 33 (FIG. 4) from which the control shaft 34 of the thermostat 32 projects, the said shaft being operated by means of a button 35 provided on the cover 33. The cover 33 of the shoe 7 is for instance screwed at 36 in the said shoe. The shoe 7 can be actuated manually by means of a rod 37 introduced at 38 in an additional member 39 secured to the tube 6 which is freely mounted on the tube section 14. As seen in FIG. 5, the shoe 7 is more precisely attached to the flattened portion 17 of the tube 16 by means of lugs 40 and screws 41. A torsion bar 42 is located in the tube 16 and ensures the return of the skid 7 to its withdrawn position with respect to the cylinder 4. As appears clearly in FIGS. 3 and 7, one end 43 of the bar 42 is bent and attached at 41, together with one of the lugs 40, in the flattened portion 17 of the tube 16, as a result of which it is prevented from rotating in the tube 16. The other end 44 of the bar 42 is also bent and abuts against a projection 45 moulded integral with the boss 15 of the casing 2. Another projection 46 limits the rotary travel of the bent portion 44 of the bar 42.

It is therefore understood that when the rod 37 is pressed upon to apply the shoe 7 on the cylinder 4, a certain pressure must be exerted on the said rod 37 to overcome the resistance opposed by the torsion bar during the rotation of the tube 16.

The shoe 7 can be maintained applied against the cylinder 4 by engaging the rod 37 into a hook 47 provided on the casing 2. This results in a pivoting motion of a small lever 49 pivotally mounted at 50 on a recurved edge 51 of the plate 31. More precisely and as seen clearly in FIGS. 3 and 7, the rod 37 is adapted to act upon a boss 52 provided at one end of the small lever 49, whereas the other end of this small lever is in the shape of a pawl 53 allowing a blade switch 54 to be operated to open or close the supply circuit.

At 55 in FIG. 7 is shown an element 4 forming a support on which the cylinder 4 rotates, the said element being mounted at the end of the tubular bar 3 and provided with an annular portion 56 on which a cross-plate 57 secured to the cylinder 4 rotates.

The support element 55 is formed of an annular portion 58 nipping the end 59 of the bar 3. More precisely, when a screw 60 is rotated, it drives a small taper member 61 provided with fins intercalated between other fins 63 pertaining to the element 58. Thus, when the screw is rotated, the taper member 61 is prevented by the imbricated fins 62 and 63 from rotating in the element 58, and the said taper member 61, as its displacement proceeds during the rotation of the screw, progressively presses the fins 63 on the end 59 of the tubular bar 3, so that finally the end 59 is nipped in the element 58 forming a support on which the portion 56 of the cylinder 4i rotates.

At 64 is shown another cross-plate forming a bearing 65 and co-operating with the plate 57 to ensure the rotation of the cylinder 4 about the tubular bar 3.

The operation of the machine just described is directly inferred from the description just made. It is not necessary to repeat the operation of each member, since it has been described in the foregoing.

it should only be mentioned that after a linen article to be ironed is placed on the cloth-covered cylinder 4, the machine starts automatically when the shoe is applied on the said cylinder by the rod 37 engaged in the hook 47. The ironing takes place at the temperature selected by means of the thermostat, and the user can, if he so desires, rotate the cylinder 4 as a free wheel to drive the linen. Lastly, when the machine is to be stopped, it is sufficient to disengage the rod 37 from the hook 47, the said rod being so mounted in the member 39 as to allow it to be subjected to a very slight rotation. The rod 37 being thus disengaged, the machine stops and the shoe is returned automatically to its withdrawn position with respect to the cylinder 4, owing to the torsion bar 412.

Of course, the invention is by no means limited to the form of embodiment described and illustrated, which has been given by way of example only. In particular, it comprises all the means constituting technical equivalents to the means described as well as their combinations, should the latter be carried out according to the spirit of the invention and used within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. in an ironing machine comprising a casing; an ironing drum; a shoe adapted to co-operate with said drum for ironing linen disposed thereon; means contained in said casing for driving said drum in rotation; bar means mounted on said casing and extending therefrom in parallel relationship to one another; said bar means including a tubular bar onto which said drum is rotatively mounted, a tube section onto which said shoe is rotatively mounted for co-operation with said drum, and two tubes forming a base for the machine, the improvements wherein said casing includes a projecting portion forming a double sleeve namely a first sleeve receiving said tubular bar and a second sleeve containing a toothed wheel member meshing with teeth provided at the internal periphery of said drum; said toothed wheel member including a hollow and internally splined portion serving as a housing for a cylindrical member, said cylindrical member being provided with slots cooperating with said splined portion for driving said toothed wheel member in rotation; and said casing further containing speed reducer means including a gear wheel train driven by said motor for rotating said drum via said cylindrical member and said toothed wheel member, said cylindrical member and said toothed wheel member as well as said gear wheel train being disposed along an axis which is substantially parallel to the axis of revolution of said drum.

2. An ironing machine according to claim 1, which further includes a toothed ring meshing with said gear wheel train and forming with said cylindrical member a dog clutch ensuring a positive unidirectional drive of said member, while at the same time enabling said lastnamed member to be operated as a free wheel.

3. An ironing machine according to claim 1, wherein said casing further comprises a plate and a shaft mounted between said plate and said second sleeve, and allowing rotation of said toothed wheel member, of said cylindrical member and of said toothed ring thereabout.

4. An ironing machine according to claim 2, further including a spring member interposed between said cylindrical member and said toothed Wheel member, and being disposed within the hollow splined portion thereof.

5. An ironing machine according to claim 1, which further includes a tubular member having a tubular end freely mounted on said tube section of the casing and a flattened tubular end portion onto which said ironing shoe is mounted, said tubular member containing means for the return of said shoe to a withdrawn position with respect to said drum and an actuating lever mounted on said tubular end.

6. An ironing machine according to claim 5, wherein said return means are constituted by a torsion bar, one end of which is immobilized in said flattened tubular end portion and the other end of which is bent and abuts against a projection of said casing.

7. An ironing machine according to claim 5, wherein said casing further includes a hook member adapted to retain said lever therein while at the same time actuating lever means pivotally mounted on the said plate and acting upon a switch of the power supply circuit of the machine.

8. An ironing machine according to claim 5 wherein said shoe is provided with a thermostat of the instantaneous switch-off type and fixing tab for securing said shoe on said flattened end portion.

9. An ironing machine according to claim 1, wherein said tubular bar includes a support element at its end remote from said casing, and said drum is provided with a centrally apertured cross-plate rotating on said support element. 

1. In an ironing machine comprising a casing; an ironing drum; a shoe adapted to co-operate with said drum for ironing linen disposed thereon; means contained in said casing for driving said drum in rotation; bar means mounted on said casing and extending therefrom in parallel relationship to one another; said bar means including a tubular bar onto which said drum is rotatively mounted, a tube section onto which said shoe is rotatively mounted for co-operation with said drum, and two tubes forming a base for the machine, the improvements wherein said casing includes a projecting portion forming a double sleeve namely a first sleeve receiving said tubular bar and a second sleeve containing a toothed wheel member meshing with teeth provided at the internal periphery of said drum; said toothed wheel member including a hollow and internally splined portion serving as a housing for a cylindrical member, said cylindrical member being provided with slots co-operating with said splined portion for driving said toothed wheel member in rotation; and said casing further containing speed reducer means including a gear wheel train driven by said motor for rotating said drum via said cylindrical member and said toothed wheel member, said cylindrical member and said toothed wheel member as well as said gear wheel train being disposed along an axis which is substantially parallel to the axis of revolution of said drum.
 2. An ironing machine according to claim 1, which further includes a toothed ring meshing with said gear wheel train and forming with said cylindrical member a dog clutch ensuring a positive unidirectional drive of said member, while at the same time enabling said last-named member to be operated as a free wheel.
 3. An ironing machine according to claim 1, wherein said casing further comprises a plate and a shaft mounted between said plate and said second sleeve, and allowing rotation of said toothed wheel member, of said cylindrical member and of said toothed ring thereabout.
 4. An ironing machine according to claim 2, further including a spring member interposed between said cylindrical member and said toothed wheel member, and being disposed within the hollow splined portion thereof.
 5. An ironing machine according to claim 1, which further includes a tubular member having a tubular end freely mounted on said tube section of the casing and a flattened tubular end portion onto which said ironing shoe is mounted, said tubular member containing means for the return of said shoe to a withdrawn position with respect to said drum and an actuating lever mounted on said tubular end.
 6. An ironing machine according to claim 5, wherein said return means are constituted by a torsion bar, one end of which is immobilized in said flattened tubular end portion and the other end of which is bent and abuts against a projection of said casing.
 7. An ironing machine according to claim 5, wherein said casing further includes a hook member adapted to retain said lever therein while at the same time actuating lever means pivotally mounted on the said plate and acting upon a switch of the power supply circuit of the machine.
 8. An ironing machine according to claim 5 wherein said shoe is provided with a thermostat of the instantaneous switch-off type and fixing tab for securing said shoe on said flattened end portion.
 9. An ironing macHine according to claim 1, wherein said tubular bar includes a support element at its end remote from said casing, and said drum is provided with a centrally apertured cross-plate rotating on said support element. 